Do you know where your pet treats come from?

Imported Pet Food vs Local

Australia is one of the few countries in the world that remains free from many of the world’s most invasive pests and diseases. This is due, in most part, to our unique position as an island nation, and also because of our strict biosecurity standards which are among the best in the world.

 

Products entering our shores are subject to strict biosecurity and quarantine standards, with millions of cargo containers, mail packages and shipments scanned for biosecurity threats every day.1

 

Meat products and livestock are one of the most heavily regulated industries, as Australia has an internationally recognised disease-free status, meaning we are free from all major epidemic diseases which are prevalent amongst livestock in many other parts of the world2. 

 

Under current biosecurity standards, meat products can still be brought into Australia, however they must meet strict guidelines to ensure they are free from disease before they reach our shores3.

Why are imported dog treats irradiated?

Many dehydrated pet treats don’t meet biosecurity heat treatment requirements. In this case, Australia’s biosecurity laws require that the importer irradiate the pet food on arrival3. The irradiation process aims to kill bugs and bacteria which may be present on the product or in the packaging.

 

A considerable number of dehydrated pigs’ ears currently available for sale in Australia are imported. Many have travelled for months by boat to reach our shores, then been irradiated to comply with our biosecurity protocols. 

 

Sadly, this process can also destroy many of the naturally occurring nutrients in the product, reducing or eliminating vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids4. 

How can you tell your dog treats have been irradiated? 

Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to know if you are buying local or imported ears. The Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food requires that pet food that has been irradiated must be labelled “Must not be fed to cats”5. Sadly, not all products carry this label, or it is included in the small print on the back of pack.

Is radiation harmful to dogs? 

In 2008/9, the Australian veterinary community reported a potential link between irradiated pet food and symptoms associated with neurological disease in cats. More than 40 cats showed signs of disease after consuming irradiated cat food6. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) has assessed the study and agrees there is a body of evidence suggesting that irradiated pet food is harmful to cats.

 

Unfortunately, for dog food and treats there are currently no restrictions. However, RSPCA Australia’s position is that all pet food should not be irradiated as “there may be as yet unidentified health effects on dogs following ingestion of irradiated dog food”7

 

Please see link below to RSPCA’s report:

https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-rspca-australias-position-on-the-irradiation-of-imported-pet-food-products/#:~:text=RSPCA%20Australia's%20position%20is%20that%20pet%20food%20should%20not%20be%20irradiated.

How can you avoid irradiated foods? 

Look for Australian grown products. Remember, Australian owned and made does not necessarily mean the product was grown here. Australian owned businesses can import their meat products from overseas, then process and package them here in Australia.

 

Keep an eye out for phrases such as ‘not suitable for cats’ on the back of your pet treat packaging. This tells you the product has been irradiated.    

The PAWK Pet Co difference

Being 100% Australian owned, grown and made, we are unique in our complete paddock to pack production methods, so you can always rely on PAWK to deliver natural, sustainably made, quality assured treats for your dog. Every PAWK treat is all natural. No additives, no preservatives and no nasties – full stop.

[1] Airports International Features: Biosecurity: Airports keep the Antipodes Safe 2024:

https://www.airportsinternational.com/article/biosecurity-airports-keep-antipodes-safe 

[2] Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, 2023 Animal diseases, human health and food safety: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/our-safe-food-supply/Animal-diseases-human-health-and-food-safety 

[3] Australian Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries. Enclosure 5: Pet food Requirements – DAFF Biosecurity: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/animal-health/pet-food-safety/enclosure-5.pdf   

[4] National Library of medicine, 2023 Meat Irradiation: A Comprehensive Review of Its Impacts on Food Quality and Safety: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10178114/ 

[5] Report of the Standing Council of Primary Industries 2012: Managing the Safety of Domestically Produced Pet Meat, and Imported and Domestically Produced Pet Food: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/animal-health/pet-food-safety/report-of-the-scopi-pet-food-controls-working-group.pdf

[6] Australian Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Enclosure 9: AVA advice to PIMC Working Group on Pet Food Controls https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/animal-health/pet-food-safety/enclosure-9.pdf 

[7]RSPCA: Position on the irradiation of imported pet food.  https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-rspca-australias-position-on-the-irradiation-of-imported-pet-food-products/